Deformable ring fluidic memory device



July 7, 1970 v G. AMOS 3,

I DEFORMABLE RING FLUIDIC MEMORY DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1968 v z Sheets-Sheet 1 26 INVENTOR.

F" BY Lynn 6. Amos ATTORNEY July 7, 1970 1.. G. AMOS 3,519,013

DEFORMABLE RING FLUIDIC MEMORY DEVICE Filed Aug. 26. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR. Lynn 6. Amos A TTORNE Y United States Patent DEFORMABLE RING FLUIDIC MEMORY DEVICE Lynn G. Amos, Knoxville, Tenn., assignor to Corning Glass Works, Corning, NY, a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 755,283 Int. Cl. Gd 11/03 US. Cl. 137-112 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fluidic meomory device having a deformable ring disposed within a flat, two compartment, chamber with the ring being slidable from one compartment to the other in response to the output of a fluidic device or a fluidic signal. A means for sensing in which compartment the ring is disposed at any given time and a means for preventing excessive deformation of the ring while in either compartment is also provided.

Background of the invention Heretofore fluidic memory devices for digital applications have had many disadvantages. Memory devices using fluids and no solid mechanical parts comprised an ordinary type flip-fiop (bistable fluid amplifier) based on the Coanda effect or a flip-flop achieved by interconnecting two NOR gates. In either of these cases power was required to retain the data stored by the devices. If all power was removed, the data would be lost. Another device employing a small bead of specially prepared liquid, such as mercury or glycerin, capable of assuming either of two stable positions within a tubular, hour-glass shaped cavity has been known to store data in a fluidic system even in the absence of power. However, such a device has many other disadvantages including vaporization or breakup of the fluid whereby particles thereof would be carried along by the fluid stream contaminating the entire system. Such liquid breakup would be brought about by excessive air pressure or rapid cycling. Other prior art devices were strictly mechanical in nature such as spring loaded mechanisms, over-center springs, or the like. Such devices had disadvantages ordinarily connected with mechanical devices, namely, need for periodic adjustment, failure due to wear and fatigue, and the like.

Sumary of the invention The objects of the present invention are to provide a simplified, direct, and inexpensive fluidic memory device which has a long life and positive indication, and which overcomes the heretofore noted disadvantages.

Briefly, according to the present invention, a fluidic memory device is provided having a flat chamber which includes a compartment at each end thereof connected by a passage embodying a restriction. The chamber is enclosed by a pair of flat parallel walls. A deformable ring is disposed within the chamber such that it is slidable from one of the compartments to the other. When the ring is disposed in either of the compartments it is substantially undeformed. Each compartment has such configuration as to closely surround at least a peripheral portion of the ring while it is within the compartment. A passage is connected to each of the compartments for providing fluid signals in response to which the ring is caused to slide from one to the other of said compartments through the restricted passage. As the ring passes through the passage it is temporarily deformed but resumes its original shape when reaching the other of the compartments. The invention also includes a means for sensing in which of the compartments the ring is disposed at any given time. The invention may also include a means for venting the fluid 3,519,013 Patented July 7, 1970 signals to prevent deformation of the ring while it is disposed in one of the compartments.

Additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and the attached drawings on which, by way of example, only the preferred embodiments of this invention are illustrated.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is an exploded oblique view of the fluidic memory device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a circuit embodying the device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device of the present invention having the cover removed.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the device of the present invention with the cover removed.

FIG. 5 is an oblique view of another embodiment of the deformable ring of the present invention.

Detailed description The present invention may be utilized with bistable fluid amplifiers, or other fluid operated devices from which there is a fluid stream output or fluid signal available. The stream fluid may be compressible such as air, nitrogen, or other gasses, or incompressible such as water or other liquids. This invention is not limited to any particular fluid.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an exploded view of memory device 10 consisting of a body 12, deformable ring 14, and flat cover plate 16. Within body 12, there is formed a chamber 18 comprising a pair of compartments 20 and 22 connected by a passage, illustrated by dotted lines 24, embodying a restriction 26. Passages 28 and 30 are formed in the ends of body 12 to provide a means by which a signal or fluid stream may be transmitted to chamber 18.

Body 12 and cover plate 16 may be formed of any suitable material such as metal, glass, ceramic, glass-ceramic, plastics, or the like, and are sealed or bonded together by any suitable method well known to one familiar with the art.

Deformable ring 14 may be formed of any resilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber, plastics or elastomers including neoprene, butyl rubbers, or the like. The material of ring 14 need only be sufliciently resilient or deformable to pass through the restricted passage and be compatible with the fluid passed through the device. One familar with the art may readily select a suitable ring material.

Referring additionally to FIG. 2, there is shown a fluidic circuit embodying a source of a fluid stream or fluid signals, illustrated by bistable fluid amplifier 32, the outlet passages 34 and 36 of which are connected to passages 34 and 36 of which are connected to passages 28 and 30 respectively of memory device 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 the operation of the memory device will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 3, deformable ring 14 is shown disposed in compartment 22 of chamber 18. With the deformable ring 14 in compartment 22, a force will be exerted on the ring as a result of a fluid signal received at passage 30 from outlet passage 36 of fluid amplifier 32 tending to translate or slide ring 14 toward compartment 20. When the fluid signal pressure is sufficient to slide ring 14 toward compartment 20, ring 14 will be caused to deform as a result of restriction 26 when it enters the compartment connecting passage illustrated by dotted lines 24. Such a deformed ring is illustrated by dotted lines 38. Ring 14 will continue to translate or slide in response to the signal entering compartment 22 until ring 14 reaches compartment 20, as illustrated by dotted lines 40, whereupon the ring will return to its original unstressed condition or shape. As will be readily understood, when the ring passes from one compartment to the other past restriction 26 and is deformed, the ring will be in a stressed condition.

Ring 14 will remain in compartment 20 whether the signal is continued to be supplied to passage 30 or is terminated. Thereby sensing the location of ring 14, as hereinafter described, and determining that it is in compartment 20 provides information that the last output signal or stream from fluid amplifier 32 is being or was emitted through outlet passage 36.

Thereafter, when fluid output signal or stream from fluid amplifier 32 is flipped over to emit from outlet passage 34, it will be received at passage 28 of device 10. This fluid signal will exert a force on ring 14 tending to slide it back to compartment 22 in the manner heretofore described. When the ring has been caused to return to compartment 22, its location therein may be sensed which will provide the information that the last output signal from fluid amplifier 32 is being or was emitted through outlet passage 34. The device is said to have a memory because the ring location indicates to which of the two passages 28 and 3 the last fluid signal was transmitted. As will be readily understood by one familiar with the art the signals transmitted through passages 28 and 30 may represent a 0 or a 1 respectively, which digital information is thus stored by the memory device. A bistable fluid amplifier is used in the heretofore described example only as an illustration and this invention is not limited to any particular source of fluid signals or source of a fluid stream.

Chamber 18 is formed in a flat elongated shape such that the bottom surface 42 of chamber 18 and chamber enclosing surface 44 of cover plate 16 forms substantially flat parallel planes. The height of ring 14, which is illustrated with a cross section in the shape of a parallelogram, that is a square or rectangle, is predetermined so that it extends from surface 42 to surface 44 and is in contact with both of these surfaces when the device is assembled. Compartments 20 and 22 of chamber 18 are formed having such configuration so as to also closely surround a large peripheral portion of deformable ring 14 when it is disposed within either of these compartments. As heretofore noted, when ring 14 is in either of com partments 20 or 22 it is in its normal shape and unstressed. As will be understood, deformable ring 14 must be of such shape and resiliency as to be slidable from one compartment to the other with the power supplied from said fluid stream or signal source, yet snug enough such that orientation, vibration or other environmental conditions cannot cause the ring to slide from one compartment to the other prematurely.

Although restriction 26 has been illustrated as formed at one side of the compartment connecting passage illustrated by dotted lines 24, it will be understood that such restriction may be formed on both sides of the passage as long as the passage permits operation of the device as heretofore described.

Referring now to FIG. 4, additional features of the present invention are illustrated. Compartments 20 and 22 are formed such that a portion of ring 14 will extend over a given area 46 of surface 42 when ring 14 is disposed in either compartment 20 or compartment 22. This overlap provides an area within which vent passages 48 may be formed. With the deformable ring in compartment 22 as illustrated in FIG. 4, any additional fluid transmitted through passage 28 into compartment 20 will cause ring 14 to merely deform a minute amount causing vent passages 48 to be exposed through which such additional signal or stream fluid may be vented. When ring 14 is in compartment 20, as illustrated by dotted lines 40, any additional fluid signals entering compartment 22 through passage 30 will similarly deform ring 14 only a very small amount causing vent passages 48 to be exposed venting the excess fluid.

As will be understood, a single vent passage 50, as illustrated in FIG. 3, may be employed with results similar to those hereinabove described. In such an embodiment ring 14 should, at least in part, possess resiliency suflicient to cause it to slide or translate into the compartment into which it is heading, when it leaves the compartment connecting passage. Otherwise, the signal or stream fluid would be vented before the ring was completely in one or the other of the compartments and the ring would be disposed intermediate such compartment and the com partment connecting passage whereupon ring position sensing as hereinafter described could be affected. In this embodiment ring 14 need not be deformed at all to vent excess signal fluid while the ring is disposed Within either compartment.

FIG. 4 also illustrates a means for sensing the compartment within which ring 14 is disposed at any given moment. This is accomplished by means of sensing ports 52 and 54. With ring 14 disposed in compartment 22, sensing port 54 would be covered by the ring. Any sensing fluid emitted through sensing port 54 would create a back pressure which can be readily sensed by any of various pressure measuring devices well known in the art. A pressure measuring device 56 is shown connected within the circuit illustrated by FIG. 2. Such pressure measuring devices do not form part of the present invention. If ring 14 does not cover such a sensing port, as illustrated by port 52 in compartment 20, no back pressure will develop if a sensing fluid is emitted from port 52. As will be readily understood ring sensing in the memory device of the present invention may be accomplished with only one sensing port since, in normal operation, ring 14 will be disposed in one compartment or the other, therefore, when a back pressure is developed in such sensing port it is known that the ring is disposed in the compartment having the sensing port, and if no back pressure is developed it is known that the ring is disposed in the other compartment.

The sensing port may alternately be formed in wall 58 of chamber 18, as illustrated by port 60 in FIG. 4. In such an embodiment, port 60 must be located such that a sufficient back pressure can be created within it when a sensing fluid is emitted therefrom, therefore, it should preferably be formed in that portion of wall 58 which closely surrounds ring 14.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the deformable ring of the present invention. Deformable ring 62 is illustrated in the form of a torus. In this embodiment the compartments of the fluid memory device of the present invention are formed such that a substantially line contact is obtained between ring 62 and that wall of the compartment which closely surrounds the peripheral portion of the ring. A substantially line contact is obtained between ring 62 and the bottom surface of the chamber and the enclosing surface of the cover plate when the device is assembled.

One familiar with the art will readily understand that the final design parameters of any specific fluid memory device will at least in part depend on fluid density, temperature, and pressure as well as other characteristics of the fluid signals or fluid stream which will operate the present device.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific details and certain embodiments thereof, it is not intended that such details be limitations upon the scope of the invention except insofar as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fluidic memory device comprising a means defining a flat chamber having a compartment at each end thereof connected by a passage embodying a restriction, the fiat sides of said chamber forming substantially parallel planes,

a deformable ring disposed within said chamber and slidable from one to the other of said compartments through said passage, said ring being substantially undeformed when disposed within each said compartment with each said compartment being adapted to closely surround a portion of said ring while it is disposed therewithin,

first means connected to said one of said compartments for providing a first fluid signal in response to which said ring is slidable from said one to said other of said compartments through said passage, and

second means connected to said other of said compartments for providing a second fluid signal in re sponse to which said ring is slidable from said other to said one of said compartments through said passage,

said ring being temporarily deformed when passing through said passage past said restriction.

2. The fluidic memory device of claim 1 further comprising at least one vent passage formed within said means for defining a flat chamber located such that excess signal fluid is vented therethrough after said ring is translated to the desired compartment.

3. The fluidic memory device of claim 1 further comprising a means for sensing in which of said compartments said ring is disposed at any given time.

4. The fluidic memory device of claim 2 further comprising a means for sensing in which of said compartments said ring is disposed at any given time.

5. The fluidic memory device as defined in any one of claims 3 and 4 wherein said means for sensing comprise a sensing port formed in said means defining a flat chamber located such that said deformable ring causes a back pressure to be created within said port when said ring is disposed within one of said compartments.

6. The fluidic memory device as defined in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, and 4 wherein said first means comprise a source of fluid signals and a connecting passage intermediate said source and said one of said compartments.

7. The fluidic memory device of claim 5 Wherein said first means comprise a first source of fluid signals and a connecting passage intermediate said first source and said one of said compartments.

8. The fluidic memory device of claim 7 wherein said second means comprise a second fluid signal source and a connecting passage intermediate said second fluid signal source and said other of said compartments.

9. The fluidic memory device as defined in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, and 4 wherein said deformable ring has a cross section in the shape of a parallelogram.

10.. The fluidic memory device as defined in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, and 4 wherein said deformable ring is in the shape of a torus.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,265,117 12/1941 Seymour 137-118 XR 3,422,259 1/1969 Freeman 235--201 3,450,340 6/1969 Reader 13781.5 XR

FOREIGN PATENTS 556,879 10/1943 Great Britain.

HAROLD W. WEAKLEY, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

